Red Sox get RHP Cashner from Orioles for 2 minor leaguers

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have upgraded their starting rotation by obtaining right-hander Andrew Cashner in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles.

The deal was announced Saturday after Baltimore beat Tampa Bay 2-1 in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. The Red Sox also got cash while sending a pair of 17-year-old prospects to the Orioles.

Cashner is 9-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 17 starts for the team with the worst record in the majors. He has gone at least six innings in his last five starts and has a 1.41 ERA since the beginning of June.

The 32-year-old Cashner goes from the rebuilding Orioles to the defending World Series champion Red Sox, who are striving to get back into the postseason after getting off to a poor start. Boston began the day far back of AL East-leading New York but in the thick of the wild-card race.

The trade came less than three weeks before the July 31 trade deadline

Cashner is in the final season of a two-year, $16 million contract. He has a lifetime record of 55-82 with a 4.00 ERA.

Baltimore agreed to send Boston $1,777,839 to cover all but $1,577,000 of the $3,354,839 Cashner is due from his $8 million salary this year. Baltimore also agreed to make contingent payments on some of Cashner’s performance bonuses if he should achieve them.

The Orioles received infielder Noelberth Romero and outfielder Elio Prado.